, 1887-07-29

WIN WHOul Il was i olBCOv-
cred q thousand excellencies in his mind
and character now that he had gone. /
did not love him, but was lonely without
him.
One night, six weeks after his depart
ure, his card was handed to me, and 1
went dow to find him waiting for me in
the drawing room.
"Wen, MarjoHe, he said, coming for
ward and taking my hand in his, ''have
you reconsidered that No of yours2''
What should 1 say? I was tired of the
world and the life I lived in it. I
liked Mr.. Cameron-respected him. I
had missed him sorely, but did not love
him.
These thoughts flashed through my
mind as 1 stood there. At length 1 drew
away my hand and said, ''Mr. Cameron,
l respect and like you, but l do not love
you. Years ago 1 was engaged to a man
whom l thought 1 loved. l learned that
he was deficient in all traits of character
that go to make up true manhood. Since
then l ave never been able to clothe any
man in the robes of my ideal lover.
Knowing this, if you desire, l will be
your wife"
He stopped and kissed my forehead.
My darling, my lear one'-his voice
trembling a little-'I will make you SO
happy; l will love you so tenderly that
surely some time your heart will answer
to mine"
And so we were engaged.
he was a strange man, this Hugh
Cameron. Few men would care to win
a wife So; and often 1 thought, as the
wedding preparations went on, how great
his love must be.
We had been married three months.
Everything hat money could buy was
mine; but l wasn't happy. My husband
remembered that / married without low
ing him, and this stood between us.
He seemed to think that expression of
affection on his part would weary me,
while every day he was growing dearer
to me.
1t was not possible to see day after day
what a noble, unselfsh character he was
and not love him; but he was strangely
proud, and waited for my love, not an
noying me meantime with demonstra-
ions of his own.
There came a day at last when 1 knew
1 loved him even as he loved me.
was sitting at the piano playing some
dreamy old melody. The door was sud
denly thrown open and my French maid,
Marie, stood before me wringing her
hands and sobbing: ooh, madame, Mon
sieur Cameron-he is killed. he is deadl'
The room seemed to whirl around me,
but commanded myself.
Hush your crying, Mariel What do
you mean? Will you tell me what you
saw ? said, sternly, grasping her arm
with a force that frightened her.
THE new mansion at the cornerl A
stone-it fell on monsieur as he was pass
ing!''
Her voice sounded far away, the room
grew very dark, a voice rang in my ears,
He is killed. he is dead!" and 1 became
unconscious.
why, little wife, open your eyes. 1
am not hurtl'
The we'll known voice and the power
full ammonia, which l hate, brought me
to my senses again. l was lying on the
sofa, Hugh was holding my head, while
Marie applied the ammonia. 1 sat up.
what does all this mean p I asked.
"Only this" my husband answered.
81 was passing the new building at the
corner, when a marble window sill fell.
1 should nave been killed, but, by a
strange circumstance, at hat moment /
tripped on a loose brick and fell. The
sLI uLSSeu me ny a nanu 8 breadth Ma
RE supposed, when fell, that 1 was
killed, and Cooking severely at herr with
u waiting to ascertain, rushed off and
frightened you into a fainting it."
Marie began to cry.
Never mind, Marie said 1. There
is no damage done; you may go now"
After she had gone 1 turned to my hus-
band and said: Hugh, it would have
killed me. Oh, my husband, l love
you'll" And l, too, began to cry.
A wonderful light shone forth from his
eyes.
Marjorie, my darling, is it truer"-
laying my head on his shoulder. Look
into my eyes, little one, and say it again"
I blushed like a girl, as 1 looked into
his fond eyer gazing into mine, and re-
piled: 81 think I nave loved you a good
while, only Marie was the means of show
ing me how much"
cat last! my darling, my darlingl''
We sat there in the twilight, the bliss
unutterable of perfect love filing our
hearts.
And SO it is now. There is silver in
my hair, and my husbands is quite gray,
but the love hat was revealed to me that
day has never grown less.